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Allen Johnson's record run highlights NHRA qualifying

July 20, 2012

Allen Johnson earned the top qualifying spot in Pro Stock at the Mile-High NHRA Nationals. Photo by LAT Photographic

Allen Johnson raced to a Pro Stock track-record run in the final qualifying session to take his seventh No. 1 qualifying position of the season Saturday at the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at scenic Bandimere Speedway.

Spencer Massey and Jack Beckman held on to the top spot in Top Fuel and Funny Car and will be the drivers to beat in Sunday's eliminations at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event.

Johnson powered his Team Mopar Dodge Avenger to a performance of 6.951 seconds at 198.29 mph to take the 25th No. 1 qualifying effort of his career and fourth at the Denver track.

“It was really something to come here this weekend and make our best run [in the last qualifying session] while we were just trying to get ready for tomorrow,” said Johnson. “Hats off the crew, the engine guys, my dad [Roy Johnson], Mark [Ingersoll] and Jim [Yates], and everybody else on the car. We've just got a bad hot rod right now.”

Johnson, who has won twice this season and who has qualified for the NHRA playoffs, will meet Paul Pittman in the first round of eliminations. Johnson will try to continue his impressive streak at Thunder Mountain, where he has advanced to the last five final rounds at this event, winning three times.

Defending world champion Jason Line, who qualified fifth, also secured his spot in the Countdown playoffs. Defending event winner Mike Edwards qualified second and was followed by local favorite V. Gaines, who will start third in his Kendall Oil Dodge Avenger.

Top Fuel points leader Massey earned his second No. 1 qualifying position of the season and fifth of his career with his Friday performance of 3.914 at 318.02 in his FRAM/Prestone dragster.

“The track was hot today, and obviously everyone was struggling,” Massey said. “I was surprised when we ran a 3.91 in the first session, and I was surprised again when it held on for number one. We're going to stick with our philosophy that we had since last year by trying to run down the racetrack and not beat ourselves tomorrow.”

Massey will face journeyman racer Steve Chrisman in the first round as he tries to win his second consecutive title at this event and fifth race of the season. Massey could also become the first Top Fuel driver to clinch a spot in the Countdown if he can advance past Bob Vandergriff and Clay Millican in eliminations.

“Getting clinched in the Countdown would be a huge plus, but our main deal is trying to go rounds and get win lights,” Massey said. “We did very well in the heat during qualifying. We tried to see how far we could actually push it in the last run and smoked the tires. That's good. I'm glad to know how far we can go before we get over the hump.”

Antron Brown qualified second in his Matco Tools dragster and was followed by Doug Kalitta, Terry McMillen and Brandon Bernstein in the top five.

In Funny Car, Beckman secured his first No. 1 qualifying position of the season in his Valvoline NextGen Dodge Charger with a run of 4.131 at 304.05. It was the fifth No. 1 of his career and first at this track.

“The fact that we ran well on Friday night is great for qualifying, and the fact that we ran well three times in the heat is great for eliminations,” Beckman said. “You can win from any position in nitro Funny Car, but qualifying at the top and getting to pick the pairing you want to run in puts you in a favorable position.

Beckman, who has one win in two career finals in Denver, will meet Todd Simpson in the first round as he continues to try and improve on his points position for the Countdown.

“We got 14 points during qualifying -- six bonus points and eight for qualifying number one,” Beckman said. “Anyone who tells you they don't count points is either lying or they aren't good at math. All of that is awesome, but nothing replaces how it makes those nine guys that work on the car feel.”

Robert Hight qualified second and in the process became the first Funny Car driver to clinch a Countdown playoff berth. Ron Capps was third and was followed by veteran racers Cruz Pedregon and John Force, the defending event winner.

Sunday's NHRA elimination pairings

First-round pairings for eliminations for the 33rd annual Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway, the 13th of 23 events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.